Educational Opportunity

Top Political, Legal and Christian Intellectuals Featured on
“GREAT Talks” WebSeries

CBN.com
 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (Jan. 23, 2014) – Recognized as one of the nation’s top online schools by U.S. News & World Report, Regent University has launched a new Christian massive open online platform this week called LUXVERA™ (luxvera.regent.edu) featuring free college courses and series of “GREAT Talks” by notable intellectuals in the fields of politics, law and religion.

Both the courses and the “GREAT Talks” series are free and available to anyone around the world with internet access. Featured speakers in the “GREAT Talks” series include:

-Jay Sekulow (chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice/ACLJ) on “Presidential Power”

-Paul Bonicelli, (executive vice president of Regent and former George W. Bush appointee) on “American Exceptionalism”

-Jeffrey Brauch (dean of Regent Law School) on “Right to Die”

-Doris Gomez (interim dean at Regent School of Business & Leadership) on “Character and Leadership”

-Pat Robertson (chancellor of Regent University) on “A Life Well-Lived”

The first college course offered on LUXVERA is titled, “Who Is Jesus?” Developed by Dr. Corné J. Bekker, chair of the Department of Biblical Studies and Christian Ministry at Regent, the course explores the life and ministry of Jesus. “The free online class enables participants to consider the identity, relevance, and challenge of Jesus for the 21st century world,” said Bekker.

LUXVERA, which means “light and truth,” is Regent University’s exclusive online platform. Those who complete courses on LUXVERA may be eligible to receive a certificate of completion from Regent University. In the future Regent plans to confer actual college credit at the university as a paid option, and as the program further evolves, Regent also plans to implement fully accredited degree programs.

“With Regent University being a leading Christian university that is also recognized as a top online learning institution, LUXVERA will have significant ramifications both here and around the world,” said Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, dean of Regent's College of Arts & Sciences, and director of the university's MOOC strategy and initiatives. “A Christian MOOC can deliver thoughtful, excellent and free content to unlimited numbers of people. LUXVERAis elegant, engaging and designed to provide an accessible and extremely affordable education with excellent academic content. Christian higher education has the power to transform and LUXVERA is the means by which Regent – and the entire Christian community – can give hope for a better life that includes a great education that molds the mind, the heart and our actions,” said Moreno-Riaño.

MOOCs are the latest progression in higher education, since they allow universities to attract many more students and provide innovative styles of learning. To date, more than 6 million students are enrolled in the two biggest MOOC platforms, with such prestigious universities as Harvard and MIT already effectively utilizing these platforms.